2 Vietnamese fall to death to avoid crackdown

Two Vietnamese men, who had overstayed their visa, died after falling from a ledge of a motel while attempting to dodge a police crackdown on illegal gambling.

During the police raid, three Vietnamese attempted to hide themselves on the veranda on the fourth floor of a motel in South Jeolla Province. But they fell as the steel railing became dislodged, police said.

They were transferred to a hospital but two of them were pronounced dead and the third is in critical condition.

The police made the bust following a tip that Vietnamese often gambled at the motel. A total of 27 Vietnamese nationals were found gambling there. Police confiscated some 4.8 million won ($4,180) and apprehended 24 Vietnamese.

Police suspect the three desperately attempted to dodge the crackdown in fear of deportation as they were illegally staying in Korea. Including the three, 17 people out of 27 were found to have overstayed their visas.